Tray-compartment closure for cooling machines



A. E. THORNLEY TRAY COMPARTMENT CLOSURE FOR COOLING MACHINES Jan. 17, 1928.

Filed Nov. 5. 1926 gww/ntoz I abmnu Patented Jan. 17, 1928,

UNITED STATES PATENT :QFFICE,

ALBERT E. THORNLEY, OF PAWTIICKET, RHODES ISLAND, ASSIGNGB- TO IQ'ARBAGANSETT MACHINE COMPANY 0F PAWTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND.

TRAY-COMPARTMENT oLosUnn non COOLING mecnmns.

Application filed November This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in tray compartment closures for cooling machines, and the primary object of the invention is to provide a closure for the tray compartment of a cooling machine or device which can be easily opened and closed.

Considerable difficulty has been experi enced with closures of this type in that frost collects in the lines of juncture between the closure and the front of the machine, and also about the hinged structure, which ren doors it difiicult to open the closure on account of the accumulated frost, which latter also obstructs return of the closure to its operative position, necessitating removal of the frost so as to permit the closure or door to be moved to closed position.

The invention therefore aims to provide a simple and economical construction which will avoid the objections noted.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the tray compartment of a cooling device, partly broken away and in section to show the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed sectional view of the hinge construction and Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the lip which forms a knuckle for the hinge connection.

In proceeding in accordance with the pres ent invention, a pan-like closure 1 is provided that is equipped with a handle 2, the closure has flanged marginal walls, of which the upper flange 3 is curled or rolled 1nwardly as indicated at 4, and embraces a reinforcing rod 5. The top wall 6 of the tray compartment is curved outwardly at T and is doubled upon itself to form a part 8, which latter engages the curved part 7 and the acfljacent part of wall 6 and is finally bent upwardly at 7 and secured to the front wall 8 of the unit 9, thus providing a trough shaped. par which constitutes a knuckle for the pintle or hinge, which latter is constituted of the part 4 rolled about the rod 5. The parts 7 and 8 are offset, as indicated at 9, at each end thereof, and form abutments, which latter restrict sliding movement of the pintle, formed by parts 45, and at the same time permit such parts to freely rotate in the knuckle.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that a hinge is provided which has an elongated hearing which is considerably protected against the collection of frostand which 5, 1926. serial No. 146,553.

l. In a cooling device, a tray compartment I shaving atop wall which is curved upwardly and then bent downwardly upon itself and extended upwardly to engage against the front wall of the compartment so as to form a trough-shaped knuckle, the end portions of the knuckle being extended inwardly to form abutments, and a pan-like closure for the compartment having its top flange rolled downwardly and inwardly and upwardly to form a pintle that is received in the knuckle and between the abutments of the latter, and a rod in said rolled flange to reinforce same.

2. In a cooling device, a tray compart- -ment having a top wall which is curved upwardly and then bent downwardly upon itself and extended upwardly 'to engage against the front wall of the compartment so to form a trough-shaped knuckle,

the end portions of the knuckle being extended upwardly to form abutments, and a pan-like closure for the compartment having its top flange rolled downwardly and inwardly and upwardly to form a pintle received in the knuckle and between the abutments of the latter.

3. In a cooling device, a tray compartment having an upwardly extending curved part projecting forwardly therefrom to form a trough-shaped knuckle, said curved part having portions offset inwardly to form abntments, and a closure having a downwardly rolled. pintle turnably received in the knuckle and movable vertically out of the latter and disposed between the abutments of the knuckle. i

4;. In combination with a tray con'ipartment l'iaving a horizontal wall which is curved upwardly and then downwardly and finally upwardly to form a trough-shaped knuckle, a closure for the compartment extending vertically over the upwardly curved part of the wall and having an inwardly extending top part which overlies the curved wall and which is curved to form a pintle that is received in the knuckle and which engages the upwardly extending part of the latter.

5. In combination w th a t ay mpa loo lit)

ment and a closure for the front thereof, an upwardly facing hollow knuckle carried by the front of the compartment, sziid closure extending vertically over the front of 5 the knuckle and having a reerwardly extending top part overlying the knuckle and having a pintle received in the knuckle.

6. In combination with a compartment having a horizontal trouglrsliaped knuckle which opens upvardly, a closure disposed over the front of the knuckle and having :1 PillllWlllCll overlies the knuckle and :1 pintle on the said port of the closure turnahly received in the knuckle and movable vertically out of the latter.

In testimony whereof I hex-e hereunto signed my name.

ALBERT E. 'IHORNLEY. 

